Fukuoka Japan

Have a look at this sign.. typical day for me.. I am traveling on 3, want to keep traveling on 3 to my destination.. but they pull up this sign that I can go either on 3 or 3!!  Which f'ing 3!!!  You think just look at the names written in English and head for the right one?? NO.... not a single one of those town names is on my map... I chose the right one anyway..

Well as reported on Facebook, the last couple days have been pretty uneventful..  rain, rain and more rain.  Boggles my mind how that much rain can fall out of the sky at that rate for such a long continuous time!

Japan is abundant in water and tunnels!! ;-)  AND PEOPLE!!!  I don't think I have ever been anywhere with such a dense population!

I had some help from an Angel yesterday though.  As I was doing my nightly navigation through an unknown city to find my accommodation.. I was grumpy from the hardest ride in the rain and fog I'd ever had.. and then sitting through traffic lights for the next 3 hours being pelted with big rain...

I got close but this place was in another little alley.  I stopped to ask a man walking by, and showed him the address and map. He pointed his finger as to "wait".  I thought he may have gone off to get somebody he knows that speaks English.. but no!  He shows up with his bicycle, and has me follow!

I was amazed, but thought it must be close then...

Twisting and turning street after street... I am feeling more and more guilty he has bothered to get his bicycle to do this for me!  Crazy soaked lady on a motorcycle??!!

Wow, I was way off this time... he found it for me (he had to stop and ask 2 times as well using my map).  God Bless Him!!!

I put my side stand down, I saw he was going to turn back.. I yelled "wait! wait!!  I pay you Yen!!" I've got my wallet in my hand and literally chased him down the alley!  He waved, "No No No', and as they say... like a ghost  - he was gone.....

Ugh!  I have had people go out of their way many times in this wonderful country to help me.. and this man topped the cake..

I am now back at Fukuoka.. readying myself for ferry to South Korea tomorrow.

And guess what!  They had a Bon Voyage celebration for Sherri Jo!!

Just kidding.. I actually have no idea what this is.. it is the preparations for an upcoming festival I was told here at the hostel..

Interesting costumes!

I had some funny thoughts at the time.. but actually I was glad to see this Japanese culture, and how so many ages groups were involved..

These big tower "floats"?  Not sure what to call them, and scattered about the place, about 4 in the area I was walking and I saw another 2 out on the street... All decorated differently.





































Luc Foucher has left a new comment on your post "Last Day in Japan": 

Hi Sherry,

This festival is held annually in Fukuoka for the first 2 weeks of july and is called Yamakasa.
Out of memory, it started about 700 years ago to pray the gods for getting out of some kind of plague.
They carry it on as a tradition and a tourist attraction.
The highlight is on the morning of the 15th of july at 4.59 AM they start a race of those floats you saw (not the tall ones they can't get pass the electric lines) at Kushida shrine.
They race for 5 km through the streets of Fukuoka, the best time wins.
Suppose to be a macho thing, women aren't allowed to participate, just prepare food for the warriors.
They cannot eat cucumber as a cut one looks like one of their crest.
They go for "R&R" in Korea after that.
Luc. 

          
These guys are airing their frustration after a long day at the traffic lights too...

Heck, I think they are grumpier than me!

It was a great way to finish up my time here... I do love Japan!!  Can not speak highly enough about how many "Wow" moments I had on the road... incredibly beautiful - the scenery and the people!

Thank You Japan!  Until we meet again...